The Palmer girls' soccer team captured the Alaska State Division II championship on Tuesday, edging Kenai Central 3‑1 in a match that highlighted the offensive firepower of forward Kylee Korinko, who netted two goals. Korinko's family relocated back to Alaska from California just six months earlier, adding a personal narrative to the team's triumph.
A Night of Triumphs Across the Mat‑Su Valley
The victory was celebrated with a tradition the coach had promised: ice‑cream treats from Big Dipper Homemade Ice Cream, a local creamery whose website is bigdippericecream.com. The sweet reward underscored the camaraderie that had built throughout the season.
Kenai Central entered the final as defending champions, having claimed the previous two titles, but a roster that lost eleven seniors found a way to level the score when Carlyene Wortham struck from distance. The lead changed hands again when Kasey Frank broke the 1‑1 deadlock in the second half, sealing the 3‑1 result.
On the boys' side, Soldotna secured its second championship in three seasons when Johnathan Wardas struck in extra time. His celebratory outburst, however, earned a red card that left the Stars shorthanded for the final minutes, a twist that added drama to the victory.
Wardas later reflected that his confidence in the squad this year contrasted sharply with the fatigue and lack of preparation that had plagued the team the previous season, a mindset that seemed to fuel the late‑game heroics.